Goa SIT probing illegal mining cases gets new chief

Panaji: The Goa government Monday appointed Deputy Inspector General Parmaditya to head the Special Investigation Team probing cases of illegal mining in the state.

Goa government Monday appointed Deputy Inspector General Parmaditya to head the Special Investigation Team probing cases of illegal mining in the state.

The Goa Crime Branch’s SIT is probing half a dozen cases of illegal mining in which several politicians, including former chief minister Digambar Kamat, government officials and mine owners have been named in charge sheets.

The Supreme Court-appointed M B Shah Commission had in its report in 2012 stated that illegal mining to the tune of Rs 3,000 had taken place in Goa between 2005 and 2012 and had named several persons who are currently being investigated by the SIT.

Parmaditya’s appointment order was issued Monday by Goa’s government Under Secretary (Personnel-II) Shashank Thakur.

DIG Jaspal Singh has been relieved as head of SIT, the order added.

Parmaditya will also supervise the work of the Superintendents of Police of North and South Goa districts.

The mining industry in the state has come to a standstill after the Supreme Court, in its order in February, quashed 88 mining leases.